02/29/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB245 | |
| SB103 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 245 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 29, 2024
3:04 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Laddie Shaw, Chair
Representative Stanley Wright, Vice Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Jamie Allard
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Andi Story
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 245
"An Act relating to depositing permanent fund dividends into
investment accounts; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 103
"An Act relating to peer support counseling programs for law
enforcement agencies, emergency service providers, and the
Department of Corrections."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 245
SHORT TITLE: DIR DEPOSIT PFD IN INVESTMENT ACCT
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SADDLER
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) STA, FIN
02/22/24 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/22/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/29/24 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: SB 103
SHORT TITLE: PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DUNBAR
03/15/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/15/23 (S) CRA
03/28/23 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/28/23 (S) Heard & Held
03/28/23 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/04/23 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/04/23 (S) Moved SB 103 Out of Committee
04/04/23 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/05/23 (S) CRA RPT 3DP
04/05/23 (S) DP: DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON, GIESSEL
04/24/23 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/24/23 (S) VERSION: SB 103
04/26/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/26/23 (H) STA
02/22/24 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/22/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/29/24 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 245, as prime sponsor.
MELODIE WILTERDINK, Staff
Representative Dan Saddler
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a sectional analysis and answered
questions about HB 245 on behalf of Representative Saddler,
prime sponsor.
SENATOR FOREST DUNBAR
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a statement regarding SB 103, as
prime sponsor.
JAMES COCKRELL, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided testimony about SB 103.
SERGEANT KELLY HUSTON, Peer Support Team Coordinator
Anchorage Police Department
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on SB
103.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:03:53 PM
CHAIR SHAW called the House State Affairs Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Representatives Allard, Carrick,
Story, Wright, and Shaw were present at the call to order.
Representative Carpenter arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 245-DIR DEPOSIT PFD IN INVESTMENT ACCT
3:05:13 PM
CHAIR SHAW announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 245, "An Act relating to depositing permanent
fund dividends into investment accounts; and providing for an
effective date."
3:05:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, paraphrased his sponsor statement [included in the
committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
House Bill 245 would give Alaskans the option to
simply and easily direct all or part of their annual
Permanent Fund dividends into investment accounts, and
make it easier for them to build their personal
financial security. Much as the popular "Pick. Click.
Give." program lets Alaskans check a box on their
dividend application to direct money to their own
favorite charities, "Pick. Click. Save." would let
Alaskans direct money to their own investment
accounts, such as Individual Retirement Accounts
(IRAs) or 401(k) accounts. Making it easier for
Alaskans to put money aside today to grow through
compound interest and capital appreciation for the
future can make them more financially independent, and
less dependent on potentially unreliable government
benefits. Currently, a person filling out a PFD
application has the option to direct all or part of
their dividend to a checking account, savings account,
529 education savings account, education raffle ticket
or, through "Pick. Click. Give.," any of several
charities. HB 245 would expand those options to
include direct deposit into an existing investment
account, eliminating the necessity of waiting to
receive the dividend, then having to take the
additional step of contributing it to an investment
account. It's important to note that HB 245 does not
seek to address any high-level policy questions about
the Permanent Fund, such as how dividend amounts are
calculated, how the Fund is invested, whether its
principal and reserve accounts should be combined, or
anything else. It simply would make it easier for
Alaskans to invest the dividends they do receive in a
way that will benefit their personal, long-term
financial health. Pick. Click. Save. is a modest but
important way we can help Alaskans along the journey
to economic independence.
3:08:37 PM
MELODIE WILTERDINK, Staff, Representative Dan Saddler, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Saddler, prime
sponsor, provided a sectional analysis of HB 245 [included in
the committee packet], which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Section 1, Page 1, Lines 4-14 & Page 2, Line 1 Section
1 of HB 245 amends AS 43.23 by adding a new section,
AS 43.23.058, which has three subsections.
Subsection (a) states that a recipient of a permanent
fund dividend may direct the Permanent Fund Division
to deposit all or part of that dividend into an
investment account.
Subsection (b) directs the Department of Revenue to
design the permanent fund dividend application to
allow direct deposits into investment accounts and to
request any information from dividend applicants
needed to make those deposits.
Subsection (c) stipulates that the Department of
Revenue may not use money from the dividend fund to
cover the administrative costs of implementing this
Act.
Section 2, Page 2, Line 2
Section 2 provides for an effective date of January 1,
2025.
3:10:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about the administrative costs.
3:10:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that while the
"Pick.Click.Give." collects an administrative fee,
"Pick.Click.Save." would have no fee. He referenced the zero
fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for an explanation for the lack of
fees.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that setting up one extra box
on the online application would create little administrative
impact.
3:12:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked for more specificity concerning the
types of accounts that can be utilized.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered that while HB 245 was envisioned
to encourage Alaskans to contribute to retirement accounts, it
is not limited to retirement accounts and can be put into any
long-term investing account including money-marketing accounts
or crypto currencies.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked if the investment accounts would
need to be established by the permanent fund dividend (PFD)
recipient.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER affirmed that the investment accounts
would be set up by the constituent separately. He noted that in
an earlier iteration of the bill that there would have been a
requirement to enroll in a state sponsored investment account.
The current version of HB 245 imposes no obligation on the state
to set up accounts.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked if there is wisdom in narrowing the
language to "retirement accounts" to deter Alaskans from
utilizing predatory accounts.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that autonomy should be granted
for citizens to determine their own investment decisions. He
made note of his personal views on long-term retirement
accounts.
CHAIR SHAW made a comment about using the PFD as an investment
opportunity.
3:16:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked if the extra box is necessary.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said HB 245 creates an additional option
for direct deposit of the PFD into a personal investment
account. He recollected opportunities in the past for Alaskans
to buy shares of the permanent fund.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked why it is necessary for the PFD
online application to indicate a separate box for investing.
3:18:08 PM
MS. WILTERDINK answered that the types of accounts, including
checking, savings, and investment accounts, must be indicated to
prevent technical errors.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked for confirmation that the changes
to the application would be minor enough to not incur extra
costs.
MS. WILTERDINK reiterated that the bill received a zero fiscal
note. Small changes made to the PFD application would be
absorbed.
CHAIR SHAW commented about using the PFD for college fund
accounts.
3:20:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented about the Alaska 529 plan.
3:21:26 PM
CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 245 was held over.
SB 103-PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM
3:21:30 PM
CHAIR SHAW announced that the final only order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 103, "An Act relating to peer support
counseling programs for law enforcement agencies, emergency
service providers, and the Department of Corrections."
3:21:48 PM
SENATOR FOREST DUNBAR, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, paraphrased the sponsor statement for SB 103 [copy
included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
SB 103 PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM establishes the
ability for law enforcement officers and first
responders to seek mental health counseling rfrom
trained peer counselors while protecting their
identity. Under current law, public safety officers
are extremely limited in their options to discuss
stressful and traumatic events that occur in their
workplace because they are often, by their nature,
related to criminal investigations. SB 103 addresses
the critical need to de-stigmatize mental health
issues that affect many public safety officers by
providing a safe and confidential way for them to talk
about emotionally intense aspects of their work. The
confidentiality created by the peer counseling program
does not apply to any threats made by the participant,
nor does it apply to admission of criminal conduct. SB
103 allows existing agencies to establish a peer
support counseling program without mandating changes
to those agencies. A law enforcement agency, emergency
service provider, or the Department of Corrections
will have the opportunity to designate an existing
employee as a peer counselor if they have prior
counseling training. Any participant who seeks
counseling from their designated peer is guaranteed
confidentiality in those communications. Confidential
space for participants to discuss emotionally
traumatic events is key for creating effective
Critical Incident Stress Management debriefs, which
the United States Occupational Safety and Health
Administration recognizes as crucial for preventing
and mitigating the effects of trauma. SB 103 will
ultimately provide emotional relief and a path to
healing for the Alaskans who bear the burden of
protecting the public. I urge you to support SB 103.
SENATOR DUNBAR explained that 30 percent of first responders
develop depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Police
officers and fire fighters are more likely to die by suicide
than in the line of duty
3:23:35 PM
CHAIR SHAW noted that Commissioner Cockrell and representatives
from the Anchorage Police Department were available for
questions.
3:24:14 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
3:24:24 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked to hear invited testimony from Commissioner
Cockrell.
3:24:39 PM
JAMES COCKRELL, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety,
stated that the Department of Public Safety supports SB 103. He
described the accumulation of traumatic events that people who
work in law enforcement experience. He noted the stigma of
seeking help to work through trauma and the success of peer
counseling efforts throughout the department. He emphasized the
importance of confidentiality and how it is critical to a
prosperous peer counseling system. He reported that throughout
2023, 1,900 peer support contacts were made throughout the
department. A law that guarantees confidentiality would help to
safeguard the trust that first responders put into the peer
counselling program.
3:27:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked about the use of the word
"counselor" in SB 103 and the parameters of counselor training.
3:28:19 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR acknowledged that there are medical professionals
who are called counselors and that peer support counselors are
not licensed counselors.
3:28:54 PM
SERGEANT KELLY HUSTON, Peer Support Team Coordinator, Anchorage
Police Department, explained that peer counselors receive
training and certification through a 40-hour course with the
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. She said
peer counselors do not have advanced degrees.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK noted that the semantics between
"counselor" and "peer counselor" may be misleading for people
who may need additional support from professional licensed
counselors.
3:30:51 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR said the term that should be utilized is "peer
counselor" and stated his understanding that peer counseling is
not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment.
3:31:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about confidentiality and whether
it would apply to an admission of criminal conduct in a peer
counseling session.
3:32:10 PM
COMMISSIONER COCKRELL stated that training empowers peer
counselors to discontinue peer support in the event the crimes
are admitted to during a counseling session. Peer counselors
are required to report any criminal offenses.
COMMISSIONER COCKRELL explained that if the needs of a public
safety employee are beyond the help of what a peer counselor can
provide, professional help can be sought elsewhere.
3:33:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked about confidentiality safeguards.
COMMISSIONER COCKRELL said the department has strict guidelines
about confidentiality. If confidentiality were in question, an
internal investigation would occur, and discipline would be
given in accordance with the level of violation.
SENATOR DUNBAR asked to hear Seargent Huston's point of view
regarding confidentiality.
3:35:33 PM
SERGEANT HUSTON said that members of the peer support team are
required to sign a confidentiality agreement. She noted that
peer counselors are volunteers and are selected through internal
recommendation. Confidentiality has yet to be a significant
issue within the program. There would be an internal personnel
process if confidentiality complaints came to light.
3:37:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked if the term "counselor" should be
changed to "peer counselor" throughout the bill to ensure
clarity.
3:38:35 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that he is not opposed to a clarifying
amendment.
CHAIR SHAW announced that SB 103 was held over.
3:39:08 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at [3:39]
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 103 Fiscal Note DoC 4.5.23.PDF |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/7/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 103 |
| SB 103 Fiscal Note DPS 1.14.2024.pdf |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/7/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 103 |
| SB 103 Sectional Analysis Version A 3.20.23.pdf |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/7/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 103 |
| SB 103 Sponsor Statement 4.25.2022.pdf |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/7/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 103 |
| SB 103 Version A.PDF |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 3/7/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 103 |
| HB 245 Sectional Analysis version A.pdf |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 245 |
| HB 245 version A.pdf |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 245 |
| HB 245 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 2/29/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 245 |